[Tutor] software design

alan.gauld@bt.com alan.gauld@bt.com
Mon, 5 Mar 2001 11:42:23 -0000


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am most familiar with... That complaint and apology out of the way, the
following was meant for the list, not just Mr. Gauld...

Since you replied to me I replied to you...
 
Here it is for the group's benefit !
 
Alan G
-----------------------------
 
 > if anyone knows of any good resources for designing flow charts?  
 
To be honest I wouldn't use flow charts but rather opt for the Activity
Charts 
in the UML notation. They are like a superset of flowcharts but allow
multiple 
parallel streams of activity  (eg threads) plus can show responsibilities
for  
actions too (eg objects, processes) ,    via something called swimlanes.
 
They are very powerful and documentation on UML and how to use it is 
plentiful both on the web and in book stores
 
> I remember once upon a time completely ignoring that part of my comp-sci  
> class in junior high because I was in no need of them (Ha!) but wish now  
>  that I had paid better attention or could find a good resource...
 
Completely as an aside. When I wrote my book  I  mentioned flow charts and 
several reviewers took me to task because newbies to programming wouldn't 
know what they are. This amazed me because in the UK flow charts are 
taught to everyone in junior school. They are not associated with comp 
science at all. In fact nearly every instruction manual be it for a  HiFi or

washing machine will have a flowchart of how to find faults etc.
 
Just a small transatlantic cultural observation. :-)
 
Alan g.


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<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr 
style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">
  <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>am most familiar with... That complaint and 
  apology out of the way, the following was meant for the list, not just Mr. 
  Gauld...</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><SPAN class=550073311-05032001><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2>Since 
you replied to me&nbsp;I replied to you...</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=550073311-05032001></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=550073311-05032001></SPAN><FONT size=2><FONT 
color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=550073311-05032001>Here it is for the 
group's benefit</SPAN><SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>&nbsp;!</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial><SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial><SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>Alan G</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial><SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>-----------------------------</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial><SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial><SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>&nbsp;&gt;&nbsp;</SPAN>if anyone knows of any good 
resources for designing flow 
charts?&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2>To be honest I wouldn't use flow 
charts but rather opt for the Activity Charts <BR>in the UML notation. They are 
like a superset of flowcharts but allow multiple <BR>parallel streams of 
activity&nbsp;<SPAN class=550073311-05032001>&nbsp;(eg threads)&nbsp;</SPAN>plus 
can show responsibilities for&nbsp;<SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>&nbsp;</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2>actions too<SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>&nbsp;(eg objects, processes)&nbsp;</SPAN>,&nbsp;<SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>&nbsp; &nbsp;</SPAN>via something called 
swimlanes.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>They are very powerful and documentation on UML and how 
to use it is <BR>plentiful both on the web and in book stores</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial><SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>&gt;&nbsp;</SPAN>I remember once upon a time completely 
ignoring that part of my comp-sci&nbsp;<SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>&nbsp;</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial><SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>&gt; </SPAN>class in junior high because I was in no 
need of them (Ha!) but wish now&nbsp;<SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>&nbsp;</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial><SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>&gt; &nbsp;</SPAN>that I had paid better attention or 
could find a good resource...</FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face=Arial size=2>Completely as an aside. When I wrote 
my book&nbsp;<SPAN class=550073311-05032001>&nbsp;I&nbsp;</SPAN> mentioned flow 
charts and <BR>several reviewers took me to task because newbies to programming 
wouldn't <BR>know what they are. This amazed me because in the UK flow charts 
are <BR>taught to everyone in junior school. They are not associated with comp 
<BR>science at all. In fact nearly every instruction manual be it for 
a&nbsp;<SPAN class=550073311-05032001>&nbsp;H</SPAN>i<SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>F</SPAN>i or <BR>washing mac<SPAN 
class=550073311-05032001>h</SPAN>ine will have a flowchart of how to find faults 
etc.<BR>&nbsp;<BR>Just a small transatlantic cultural observation. 
:-)<BR>&nbsp;<BR>Alan g.<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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